Draft rigging



3 Sheets-.Sheet l DRAFT RIGGING E. H. BLATTN ER FIC-3.1

Nov. 5, 1957 Filed March 18, 1952 Inventor:

Emil H. Blatner'r his Attorney FIG. 3

ff/l

Nov. 5, 1957 E. H. BLATTNER DRAFT RIGGING 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March18. 1952 FIG. 4

FIG. 5

NIII%\\ Inventor: Emil, H. Blattn er his AHorney Nov. 5, 1957 E. H.BLATTNER DRAFT RIGGING 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 18. 1952 l Inve ntoEmil H. Blattner is Atorney n 2,812,072 IC Patented Nov.l 5, 1957 DRAFTRIGGING Emil H. Blattner, Williamsville, N. Y., assigner to TheSymington-Gould Corporation, Depew, N. Y., a corporation of Maryland sThis invention relates to draft rigging for railway Vehicles and, insubject-matter, is a continuation-in-part of my copending application,Serial No; 141,332, filed January 30, 1950, now Patent No. 2,720,987. v

The primary object of the invention is to provide an improved draftrigging wherein a coupler is pivotally connected to a follower memberand restricted in movement relative thereto, whereby an associated draftmechanism is enabled to yieldably resist pivotal movement of the couplerover a predetermined portion of its total range of movement.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved draft riggingwhereby a coupler of the universally pivoted type is applied to afloating center sill and associated cushioning means are employed torestrict the free movement of the coupler.

A further object of the invention is to provide an im- 4 proved draftrigging making use of a coupler of the interlocking universally pivotingtype, wherein a draft gear is employed to cushion the transmission ofboth draft and buing forces to the sill and to yieldably restrain apredetermined portion of the permissive range of pivotal movement of thecoupler through a follower member pivoted directly to the coupler.

. An additional object of the invention is to provide in a draft riggingan improved construction of universally angling coupler and followerwhereby the coupler, while limited in a portion of its relative anglingmovement, is enabled to maintain surface bearing with the follower.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereafter inthe detaileddescription, be particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims, and be illustrated vin the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a fragmentary plan view partly in section of a preferred formof draft rigging embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a View similar to Fig. l with the `coupler shown at one of thelimits of its horizontal movement to illustrate the inter-play of theseveral parts in restraining such movement;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view,`partly in vertical section, of thedraft rigging of Fig. 1;

Y Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view, partly in section and longitudinalsection to more clearly illustrate certain of the` details ofconstruction. v-

Referring now in detail to the drawings reference characters designatelike parts, theimproved draft rigging of the present invention includesacoupler 1 ofY the pivotally, swivelly orfswingably mountedtype, a

in which like so-called tight lock or interlocking coupler which ismounted for universal, or both horizontal and vertical pivoting,swinging or swivelling, and is known as A. A. R. type F, having beenselected for purposes of illustration.

In place of a rigid underframe to which this type of coupler is usuallyapplied, the illustrated coupler 1 is mounted in an underframe or centersill 2 of the floating type which is suspended beneath the body (notshown) of a railway vehicle or car and is movable longitudinallyrelative thereto in buff and draft. As in the conventional Duryeaunderframe, the center sill 2 is comprised of a pair of transverselyspaced side or sill members 3 of Z or other suitable shape, connected attheir upper edges by a top plate 4. This sill extends the length of thebody and incorporates or includes, intermediate its ends, a cushioningor draft mechanism 5.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1-3, only an endportion of the draft rigging is shown, the remainder being conventionaland similar in detail to a floating underframe such as illustrated in U.S. Patent No. 2,284,268. To the end of the underframe, between the sillmembers 3 is secured, as by riveting, an end or striking casting orstriker 6. This casting is of box shape and has a top web 7, side webs8, and a bottom section 9 which together define a substantiallyrectangular opening 10 through which the coupler 1 extends. Forsupporting the forepart of the shank 11 of the coupler during verticalswinging, the bottom section 9 of the striking casting is provided witha housing 12 for springs 13 on which a coupler carrier 14 is resilientlysupported, the latter directly engaging the underside of the shank 11 ofthe coupler, rearwardly of the coupler head 15. For permitting the fullhorizontal swing of the coupler, some five inches toward either side, asmeasured at the coupling line, the side webs 8 are ared adjacent theirfront ends. If desired, key slots 16 may be formed in the side webs toadapt the draft rigging to take a non-interlocking form of coupler,should this prove necessary. However, for the universally swingable orpivotal coupler illustrated, such key slots are Vfor emergency operationand have no purpose in normal service.

In the conventional type F coupler bufing forces are transmitted to thecushioning mechanism through a detached follower block and the sameblock is employed as a reactance in draft. However, in both forms of thedraft rigging of the present invention, the follower is not detached butis connected directly to the coupler. In both forms, as Well, thecoupler is restricted in its free swing to the central portion of itspermissive range of horizontal swinging movement and is yieldablyrestrained or resisted in movement therebeyond by the associated draftmechanism. In the form shown in Figs. 1 3 the draft mechanism 5 of thefloating sill is employed for this purpose, while in that of Figures 6and 7 a separate draft gear is used. f

Referring'iirst to the embodiment of Figures l-3, the follower member isa follower or coupler butt casting 17 formed of a body portion orfollower block or plate 18 and a pair of integral vertically spacedarmsy 19 projectingforwardly therefrom. The follower block 18 extendstransversely of the underframe 2 and at `eithertransverse end hasclearance .with thecorresponding faces of the sill'members 3.Longitudinallyof the sill, the follower block ridesI or slides between acasing 210 iixed to the underfrarnevandhousing the spring 21'ofitscushioning mechanism 5 :and a pair of front draft lugs or stops 22which are formed integrally with and denne the rearextremities of thestrik-y' ingv casting l6. i Therebetween, the follower block isconstantly urgedy forward bylthe pressure against its rear face of thespring vr21 exerted througha head 23 of a linkY 24 encircled bythespringand forming part of the Cujs'hj ioning mechanism 5.r *"-fv Fortransmitting bulling and draft forces to the body portion 18 of thefollower 17 and, therethrough, to the underframe 2 in the manner justdescribed, the forwardly extending arms 19 of thevfollower are adaptedto receive therebetween the shank `1'1 of the coupler and to beconnectedthereto through a vertically disposed cylindrical pivot pin 25. This pinextends through vertically aligned cylindrical openings 26 in the armsand a vertically ldisposed recess, aperture or opening 27 in the shank.VFor supporting the follower 17 in the underframe, thearms 19 aredesigned to extend into and be housed in the rear part of the strikingcasting 6, between the draft lugs 22 and are supported therein on asupport plate 28, which eX- tends between the side webs 8 of thelcasting and also serves as the `rest for `the lower end ofthe pivotlpin 25. Since the portion of the `striking casting, above the pivotpin, is normally open, there is secured over the top of the casting inthis area, a retaining plate 29 which overlies the upper end of the pinand prevents its accidental removal.

The pivot pin is intended to transmit draft forces to the follower 17but to `relieve the pin of excessive stresses, bufng forces aretransmitted directly from the coupler to the body portion 18 of thefollower. At the `same time, it is necessary that the engaging surfacesof the coupler, pin and follower block be of such conformation as topermit universal swinging or pivotal movement of the coupler. Horizontalswinging of the coupler relative to the arms 19 presents no problem inview of the vertical pivot. For vertical swinging of these members, theupper and lower faces 30 of the coupler are tapered inwardly on eitherside of the pivot pin and the inner, confronting or abutting faces 31 ofthe arms are oppositely or outwardly tapered, the relative angularity ofthe taper being determined by the limits of vertical movement requiredof the coupler. The same vertical swinging movement or angling of thecoupler relative to the pivot pin 25 is made possible, forwardly of thepin, by forwardly tapering the front wall 32 of the pin-receiving recess27 in the shank 11, above and below the vertical mid-point of the shank.Rearwardly, the pivot pin is spaced from the rear wall 33 of the recess27 by a bearing block 34 having a cylindrical slot 35 in its front facein which the pin lits and a convex, partly spherical rear face 36,concentric with the center of movement of the coupler, `and engaging theconcave correspondingly spherical rear wall 33 of the recess.

For transmitting the buing forces directly to the body portion 18 of thefollower 17 over the range of angling movement of the coupler, the butt37 of the coupler has a convexly spherical intermediate or centralsurface or protuberance 38 concentric with the center of anglingmovement of the coupler, which engages a `co-radial concentric concavelyspherical bearing face or socket 39 in the body portion 18 of thefollower.

Were the engaging surfaces entirely spherical, the coupler would belimited in its swinging movement only by its engagementwith the arms 19and the sides of the striking casting 6. Although the coupler must havethe prescribed full range `of horizontal swing, it has been found thatif a coupler swings freely over the outer portion of this movement theresultant lateral forces under certain conditions, and particularly inbuff, will cause cars to run out of line. It is therefore intended thatthe coupler and follower be restricted in relative horizontal movementto limit the free swing of the coupler at the coupling line to some twoinches on each side of the center.

In the conventional draft rigging for the type F coupler, in which thecoupler butt bears against a detached follower block, free horizontalmovement of the coupler is limited by the provision of cylindricalshoulders on the coupler butt and corresponding cylindrical pockets onthe follower block, the cylindrical surfaces intersecting and beingdisposed on either side of the mating spherical surn faces forming thecentral portions of the butt and block.

4 With this construction, the included angle between the matingcylindrical surfaces on each side determines the extent of freehorizontal movement of the coupler. In the conventional rigging, thisangle is obtained by inclining the axes of the shoulders forwardly andthose of the pockets rearwardly of a norm to the longitudinal axis ofthe coupler, the axes of the shoulders, as well as those of the pockets,thus being disposed obliquely to each other. The cylindrical limitingsurfaces were adopted on the theory that they would have surface bearingduring vertical angling of the coupler beyond the limits of freemovement. However, it has now been found that such surface bearing isnot obtained, even theoretically, with consequent excessive wear of thelimiting surfaces and impairment of the action of the coupler.

While the draft rigging of the present invention also makes use ofmating surfaces to limit the free angling movement of the coupler, thesesurfaces are of such configuration and so disposed as to ensure thedesired surface bearing during vertical angling. The theoretical basisfor this feature of the invention is that, if the coupler is to havetrue vertical movement during contact of its limiting surfaces, thesurfaces on the coupler must be surfaces of revolution struck about ahorizontal line passing through the center of angling movement of thecoupler and normal to its longitudinal axis. On this basis, the limitingsurfaces on the butt 37 of the coupler may be cylindrical, conical orfrusto-conical, or of torus-shape with the prescribed normal lineserving as their axes; or they may be spherical, in which case theircenters would fall on that line to the corresponding side of the centerof movement of the coupler. ln each case, the concave surfaces on thefollower are correspondingly formed and, on intertting, are coradial andcoaxial or concentric with their mating surfaces on the coupler, theaxes of the follower surfaces or the lines about which they are struck,thus intersecting those of the coupler surfaces at the center of anglingmovement of the coupler. By use of one or the other of the permissivevariants, it is possible to incline, slope or tilt the limiting surfaceson the coupler forward or back or hold them normal to the longitudinalaxis of the coupler, with the limitations that they must normally befree of or separated from the mating surfaces on the follower and mustbe interttable therewith at the limits of free movement of the coupler.With these limitations, any form of limiting surface on the couplerwhich on any vertical section parallel to a vertical plane passingthrough the longitudinal axis of the coupler, will form an arc of acircle struck about the intersection of that section with the aforesaidnormal line, will sufiice.

In the form of limiting surfaces used in the disclosed embodiments ofthe invention and shown in detail in Figs. 4 and 5, the convex sphericalsurface 38 forming the central portion of the coupler butt 37, isintersected or delimited on either side by a convex cylindrical shoulderor abutment 40, the shoulders being coaxial and their common axis beingthe prescribed horizontal line, here designated at As, which is normalto the longitudinal axis of the coupler and passes through its center ofpivotal or angling movement. The central concave spherical surface 39onthe follower is likewise delimited or intersected by concavecylindrical pockets or stops 41, having horizontal axes, Ap, andcoradial with the shoulders 40. However, the pockets are not coaxial buthave obliquely disposed axes, which intersect at the center of anglingmovement of the coupler and are inclined rearwardly of ci divergeoutwardly from the axis of the shoulders. The

degree of this inclination, as measured by the angle a' included betweenthe axis of the shoulders and the axis of each of the pockets, is thedeterminant of the limits of free horizontal movement of the coupler. Aspreviously mentioned, this movement is preferably 2 at the coupling lineon either side of center.

With the relative horizontal movement of the coupler 1 and the pivotallyconnected follower 17 limited in the above manner, the follower ispicked up by the coupler` and will move or swing with it over the outerportion of the total range of movement. However, since the follower isconstantly urged forward by the link 24 of the cushioning mechanism 5,any tilting of the body portion 18 will be resisted by the cushioningmechanism,

thus effectively limiting the free swing of the coupler to its limits ofmovement relative to the follower. The transverse clearance betweenthefollower block 18 and the side sill members 3 of the underframe,previously mentioned, is provided to permit the necessary tilting of thefollower. Although not shown, it may be desirable under certaincircumstances to round the outer corners of the body portion toeliminate any possibility of jamming of the block.

In the second embodiment of the draft rigging of the present invention,that shown in Figures 6 and 7, draft and bung forces are transmitted tothe underframe 2 through a draft gear 42 seated in a draft pocket 43between the sill members 3, the pocket being defined forwardly by thefront draft lugs 22 formed in the striking casting 6 and rearwardly byback stops or rear draft lugs 44 riveted or welded to each of the sillmembers 3. Similar in the form of its draft gear and in the use of thatgear to restrict the free horizontal swing of the rcoupler to the draftrigging of my Patent No. 2,720,987, the draft rigging of this secondembodiment is identical to that of the first embodiment in its strikingcasting l6 and in the direct universal pivotal connection of the coupler1 to a follower and the construction and conformation of the engaging orconfronting surfaces of the several elements involved in thisconnection. However here, as befits the use of a draft gear to transmitthe forces from the coupler 1 to the underframe 2, the follower orfollower member is a vertical yoke 45. This yoke is comprised of a bodyportion 46 which engages the butt 37 of the coupler in the same manneras did the the body portion 18 of the follower 17 of the firstembodiment. Its integral vertically spaced arms 47, however, not onlyextend forwardly to straddle the shank 11 of the coupler, but projectrearwardly of the body portion and are joined therebeyond by an integralvertical rear wall or web 48.

In the form of vdraft gear illustrated, the space or opening defined bythe body portion 46, rear web 48 and arms 47 is occupied by a follewerplate 49 of U or channel shape which straddles the body portion 46 andhas legs 50, which in draft bear against the front draft lugs 22. Alsowithin this opening is the front or draft cushion 51 of the draftgear'42. The rear or bufiing cushion 52 of the draft gear is interposedbetween the rear web 48 of the yoke 45 and a rear buing block 53 whichbears against the rear draft lugs 44. The draft and bufling cushions orcomponents 51 and 52 are preferably formed of -a plurality of rubberpads 54, certain of which are bonded to metal plates 55 and others ofwhich have separation plates 56 loosely interposed therebetween.

As with the follower 17 of the first embodiment, the yoke here is pickedup by the coupler 1 at the end of the free swing of the latter and turnsor angles with the coupler. To afford space for such angling or cockingtransverse clearance is provided between the rear web 48 of the yoke 45and the sill members 3. The operation of the yoke in restrainingmovement is similar to that of the follower 17. Thus, angling or cockingof the yoke in buff distorts the rear or bufling cushion 52, setting upa yieldable resistance which tends to restore the yoke to normalposition. In draft the resistance is provided by the front cushion 5l.The two cushions then perform the functions of the spring 21 of thefirst embodiment, which moves the follower 17 toward normal position inboth buff and draft. Thus, by pivotally connecting the follower memberdirectly to the coupler and limiting the relative movement of these twomembers, the cushioning mechanism or draft gear, depending on theembodiment, is enabled to restore the follower member to normal positionon release of the cocking forces and, at the same time, swings thecoupler toward normal position, a function usually requiring a separatecentering device.

In describing the draft riggings ofthe two embodiments, it has beenmentioned that the embodiment'of Figures l-3 employs the conventionalDuryea floating underframe, for the details of which reference was madetol U. S. Patent No. 2,284,268. The embodiment of Figures 6 and 7 alsoemploys a form of Duryea underframe and supplements the cushioningaction of the latter by the draft gear 42. As shown in Figures 6 and 7,the floating underframe 1 of either embodiment will usually projectthrough the body bolster 57 adjacent each end of the car (not shown)above the center plate or filler 58. However, since this embodimentemploys its draft gear to yieldably resist horizontal angling of thecoupler, the cushioning mechanism with its long travel springs (notshown) may be disposed between the body bolsters, to each'of which oneend ofthe mechanism may be anchored by a link 59.

From the above detailed description, it will be apparent that there hasbeen provided an improved draft rigging wherein a coupler havinguniversal angling movement is applied to a floating center sill and thecushioning mechanism of the sill or a draft gear mounted in the sill isemployed,'through limiting surfaces on the coupler and a pivotallyconnected follower, to limit the free horizontal angling of the coupler,the limiting surfaces being of such configuration as to insure surfacebearing during vertical angling. It should be understood that thedescribed and disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of theinvention and that all modifications are intended to be included whichdo not depart from the spirit of the invention or the scope of theappended claims.

.Having now described my invention, what I claim l. Draft rigging forrailway vehicles comprising a center sill movable longitudinallyrelative to a vehicle body, a follower carried by and movable relativeto said sill, a coupler universally connected to said follower memberand movable universally relative thereto and to said sill, means on saidcoupler and follower for limiting said relative movement therebetween inone direction and causing movement in unison thereof over the outerlimits of movement of said coupler in said direction relative to saidsill, and cushioning means associated with said sill acting on saidfollower member for yieldably resisting said movement in unison.

2. Draft rigging for railway vehicles comprising a center sill movable'longitudinally relative to a vehicle body, a follower carried by andmovable relative to said sill, a coupler universally connected to saidfollower and movable universally relative thereto and to said sill,means on said coupler and follower for limiting said relative movementtherebetween in a horizontal direction and Vcausing movement in unisonthereof over the outer limits of horizontal movement of said couplerrelative to said sill, and cushioning means associated with said silland acting on said follower for yieldably resisting said movement inunison.

3. Draft rigging for railway vehicles comprising a center sill movablelongitudinally relative to a vehicle body, a follower carried by andmovable relativeto said sill, a coupler universally connected to saidfollower and movable universally relative thereto and to said sill,means on said coupler and follower for limiting said relative movementtherebetween in a horizontal direction and causing movement in unisonthereof over the outer limits of horizontal movement of said couplerrelative to said sill, and mechanism for cushioning said longitudinalmovement ofsaid sill, said mechanism acting against said follower andyieldably resisting angling movement thereof in unison with saidcoupler.

4. Draft rigging for railway vehicles comprising a center sill movablelongitudinally relative to a vehicle body, a follower carried by andmovable relative to said sill,

a coupler universally connected to said follower and movable universallyrelative thereto and to said sill, means ron said coupler and followerfor limiting said relative movement therebetween in a horizontaldirection and causing movement in unison thereof over the outer limitsof horizontal movement of said coupler relative to said sill, and adraft gear carried by said sill and acting on said follower fortransmitting forces therefrom to said sill and yieldably resisting saidmovement in unison of said follower member and coupler.

5. In a draft rigging for railway vehicles, the combination with acenter sill movable longitudinally relative to a vehicle body, of afollower member carried by and movable relative to said sill, a couplerpivotally connected to said follower member and pivotally movablerelative to said sill, means on said follower member and coupler forconfining the relative pivotal movement thereof to a portion of therange of pivotal movement of said coupler relative to said sill, andcushioning means associated with said sill and acting through saidfollower member for yieldably resisting movement of said coupler beyondsaid portion.

6. In a draft rigging for railway vehicles, the combination with acenter sill movable longitudinally relative to a vehicle body,cushioning mechanism for yieldably resisting said movement and a couplerswingable relative to said sill, of a follower member swingablyconnected to said coupler, and means on said follower member and couplerfor causing swinging in unison thereof over a portion of said swing ofsaid coupler relative to said sill, said cushioning mechanism acting onsaid follower member and yieldably resisting swinging of said couplerover said portion.

7. ln a draft rigging for railway vehicles, the combination with acenter sill movable longitudinally relative to a vehicle body,cushioning means carried by said sill and a coupler swingable relativeto said sill, of a follower member swingably connected to said coupler,an element on said member spaced transversely from said sill and movablebetween longitudinally spaced stop means thereon for transmitting forcesfrom said coupler to said cushioning means, and means on said couplerand follower member for limiting the `relative swinging thereof and`through said element and cushioning means yieldably restraining aportion of said swinging movement of said coupler relative to said sill.

8. In a draft rigging for railway Vehicles, the combination with acenter sill movable longitudinally relative to a vehicle body,cushioning means carried by said sill and a coupler swingable relativeto said sill,rof a follower member swingably connected to said coupler,an element on said member carried by and angleable relative to said silland restricted in longitudinal movement relative thereto, and means onsaid coupler and follower member for limiting the relative swingingthereof and through said element and cushioning means yieldablyrestraining a portion of said swinging movement of said coupler relativeto said sill.

9. In a draft rigging, the combination with a center sill movablylongitudinally of a car body, a coupler carried by and universallypivotal relative to said sill and cushioning means associated with saidsill, of a follower member pivotaily connected to said coupler forwardlyof a butt thereof, mating spherical surfaces on said coupler butt andfollower member for permitting universal pivotal movement therebetween,and limiting surfaces on opposite sides of said spherical surfaces oneach of said butt and follower member and engageablc on predeterminedpivoting of said coupler in one direction, said limiting surfacescooperating with said cushioning means for yieldably resisting furtherpivoting of said coupler in said direction while permitting pivotingthereof in a direction substantiallynormal to said first direction,

l0. In a draft rigging for railway vehicles having a center sill movablelongitudinally relative to a vehicle body, cushioning mechanism forcushioning said movement and a coupler universally swingable relative tosaid sill, the combination of a yoke pivoted directly to said coupler,draft gear kcarried by said sill and having draft and bufng components'alternately compressible by said yoke, and means on said yoke andcoupler for restricting pivoting thereof in one direction to a portionof the swinging movement of said coupler relative to said sill andcausing movement in unison therebeyond, said movement in unison beingyieldably resisted alternately by said draft and bufling components ofsaid draft gear.

ll. In a draft rigging for railway vehicles, the combination of acoupler and a follower, said coupler having a central convex sphericalsurface intersected by spaced convexshoulders, said shoulders beingsurfaces of revolution struck about a line passing through the center ofsaid spherical surface and normal to the longitudinal axis of saidcoupler, a concave spherical surface on said follower coradial andconcentric with said convex spherical surface, and a pair of spacedconcave pockets on said follower intersecting said concave sphericalsurface, said pockets being surfaces of revolution struck aboutobliquely disposed lines intersecting at the center of said sphericalsurface and coplanar with said line of said shoulders, and saidshoulders normally being spaced from said pockets and alternatelyintertting with the confronting surfaces thereof for limiting anglingmovement of said coupler in one direction relative to said followerwhile having surface bearing during relative angling of said coupler ina direction substantially normal to said one direction.

l2. In a draft rigging for railway vehicles, the combination of afollower member, a coupler member universally angleable relativethereto, mating spherical surfaces on `said members, and normallyseparated limiting surfaces on said members and interttable on anglingof said coupler member in one direction, said limiting surfaces on saidcoupler member being convex surfaces of revolution struck about a lineextending in said one direction and passing through the center of saidspherical surfaces normal to the longitudinal axis of said couplermember, and said limiting surfaces on said follower member being concavesurfaces of revolution identical to said convex surfaces and each struckabout a line extending in said one direction and intersecting at saidcenter of said spherical surfaces, said lines of said concave surfacesbeing obliquely disposed, and said surfaces on interfitting havingsurface contact during relative angling of said coupler member in adirection substantially normal to said one direction.

13. In a draft rigging for railway vehicles, the combination of afollower, a coupler member connected directly and angleable universallyrelative to said follower member, mating spherical surfaces on saidmembers, and spaced surfaces on said members and interiittable onangling of said coupler member in one direction, said limiting surfaceson said coupler member being convex surfaces of revolution struck abouta line extending in said one direction and passing through the center ofsaid spherical surfaces normal to the longitudinal axis of said couplermember, and said limiting surfaces on said follower member being concavesurfaces of revolution identical to said convex surfaces and each struckabout a line extending in said one direction and intersecting at saidcenter of said spherical surfaces, said lines of said concave surfacesbeing obliquely disposed, and said surfaces on iuterfitting havingsurface contact during relative angling of said coupler member in adirection substantially normal to said one direction.

ld. ln a draft rigging for railway vehicles, the combination of afollower member, a coupler member universally angleable through matingspherical surfaces relative to said follower member, and limitingsurfaces on said members and interiitting on a predetermined relativeangling of said coupler member in one direction, said` limiting surfaceson said coupler member being convex surfaces of revolution having 'acommon axis extending in said one direction and passing through thecenter of said spherical surfaces normal to the longitudinal axis ofsaid coupler member, and said limiting surfaces on said follower memberbeing concave surfaces of revolution identical to said convex surfacesand having obliquely disposed axes extending in said one direction andintersecting said common axis at said center of said spherical surfaces.

15. In a draft rigging for railway vehicles, the combination of afollower member, a coupler member universally angleable through matingspherical surfaces relative to said follower member, and limitingsurfaces on said members and engageable on a predetermined angling ofsaid coupler member in one direction, said limiting surfaces on saidcoupler member being convex surfaces of revolution having a common axisextending in said one direction and passing through the said center ofsaid spherical surface on said coupler member normal to the longitudinalaxis thereof.

16. In a draft rigging for railway vehicles the combination with acenter sill land associated cushioning mechanism, of a follower membercarried by and movable relatively to said sill, a coupler memberuniversally angleable relative to said follower member through matingspherical surfaces, normally separated limiting surfaces on said membersand engageable on predetermined angling of said coupler member in onedirection for causing said members to move in unison beyond saidpredetermined angling, said surfaces -on said coupler member beingconvex surfaces of revolution spaced by said coupler spherical surfaceand struck about a common line extending in said direction and passingthrough the center of said spherical surfaces normal to the longitudinalaxis of said coupler member, said surfaces on said follower member beingconcave surfaces of revolution identical with said convex surfaces andstruck about a line coplanar with and intersecting said common line atsaid center and obliquely disposed relative thereto, said followermember engaging said cushioning mechanism for yieldably resisting saidangling movement in unison of said members, and confronting lof saidlimiting surfaces maintaining surface contact during said movement inunison on angling of Said coupler member in a direction substantiallynormal to said one direction.

l7. In a draft rigging for railway vehicles the combination with acenter sill, of a follower member carried by said sill, a coupler memberangleable universally relative to said follower member throught matingspherical surfaces, limiting surfaces on said members and interiittableon a predetermined angling of said coupler member in one direction, saidsurfaces on said coupler member being cylindrically convex and having acommon axis extending in said one direction and passing through thecenter of said coupler spherical surface normal to the longitudinal axisof said coupler member, said surfaces on said follower member beingcylindrically concave and coradial on interfitting with the confrontingof said coupler surfaces, and cushioning means associated with said silland acting on said follower member for yieldably resisting angling ofsaid coupler member in said one direction beyond said predeterminedangling.

18. In a draft rigging for railway vehicles the combination with acenter sill movable longitudinally relative to a vehicle body, of afollower member carried by said sill, a coupler member connecteddirectly to said follower member and universally angleable relativethereto through mating spherical surfaces, limiting surfaces on saidmembers and interttable on a predteermined angling of said couplermember in one direction, said surfaces on said coupler member beingcylindrically convex and having a common axis extending in said onedirection and passin`g through the center of said coupler sphericalsurface normal to the longitudinal axis of said coupler member, saidsurfaces on said follower member being cylindrically concave andcoradial on intertting with the confronting of said coupler surfaces,and cushioning means associated with said sill and acting on saidfollower member for yieldably resisting angling of said coupler memberin said one direction beyond said predetermined angling.

19. In a draft rigging for railway vehicles, the combination of afollower member, a coupler member connected and universally angleablethrough mating spherical surfaces relative to said follower member, andlimiting surfaces on said members an'd engageable on a predeterminedangling of said coupler member in one direction, said limiting surfaceson said coupler member being convex surfaces of revolution having acommon axis extending in said one ldirection and passing through lthecenter of said spherical surface on said coupler member normal to thelongitudinal axis thereof.

20. In a draft rigging for railway vehicles, the combination with acenter sill, cushioning means associated with said sill and a couplerswingable relative to said sill, of a follower member connected andswingable relative Ito said coupler, and means on said follower memberand coupler for causing swinging in unison thereof over a portion ofsaid swing of said coupler relative to said sill, said cushioning meansacting on said follower member and yieldably resisting swinging of saidcoupler over said portion.

21. In a draft rigging for railway vehicles, the combination with acenter sill, cushioning means associated with said sill and a couplermovable universally relative to said sill, of a follower carried by andmovable relative to said sill, said follower being universally connectedto said coupler, and means on said coupler and follower for limitingrelative universal movement therebetween in one direction and causingmovement in unison thereof over the outer limits of movement of saidcoupler in said one direction relative to said sill, said cushioningmeans acting on said follower for yieldably resisting said movement inunison.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,968,706 Regan July 31, 1934 2,055,473 Barrows Sept. 29, 1936 2,454,514Kayler Nov. 23, 1948 2,568,831 Simonson Sept. 25, 1951 2,589,264 KinneMar. 18, 1952 2,590,868 Kayler Apr. l, 1952 2,604,215 Kayler July 22,1952

